.

SION X JUUN

.

JOURNEY

.

Word Count: 843

.

Juun was only thirteen when she stepped into SM Entertainment’s training center, her heart pounding with both excitement and nerves. The moment she entered, the air felt different—filled with ambition, sweat, and dreams yet to be realized.

She had heard the name before she even arrived. Oh Sion.

The top trainee. The one everyone looked up to. The one everyone wanted to surpass but couldn’t.

And when she first met him, she understood why.

He stood in the practice room, watching the mirror with sharp, focused eyes. His movements were fluid yet powerful, his precision unmatched. He carried himself with quiet confidence, like he already knew he was destined for something great.

When their eyes met in the reflection, he turned.

"You must be Juun," he said, his voice steady but not unkind.

Juun swallowed hard and nodded.

"Welcome," Sion said simply, offering his hand.

She hesitated before shaking it. His grip was firm, steady—just like his presence.

"Let’s see how hard you can work," he added, a small challenge in his tone.

And just like that, the journey began.

At first, Juun struggled. She was younger than most trainees, and the pressure was overwhelming. There were days when she felt like she didn’t belong, when her legs ached from endless dance practices, when her voice wavered under scrutiny.

But Sion was always there.

"Again," he would say after their vocal evaluations, nodding toward the practice room.

"You’re not using your core enough," he pointed out during dance rehearsals, adjusting her posture.

When she failed an evaluation, she sat alone in the hallway, staring at the floor. Sion found her there and sat beside her.

"Everyone fails," he told her. "But what matters is how you come back from it."

Juun clenched her fists. "What if I’m not good enough?"

Sion chuckled softly. "You are. You just don’t see it yet."

Slowly, with every hour she spent perfecting her craft, she climbed higher. People began to notice her. The trainers praised her. And one day, someone whispered the words she never thought she’d hear—

"She’s one of the top trainees now."

She turned to Sion that day, breathless from another grueling practice.

"I made it," she whispered, as if saying it too loud would break the illusion.

Sion smirked. "Told you so."

The announcement came one evening—Juun and Sion would perform together for the upcoming showcase.

A duet. Dancing to BoA.

It was an honor. It was terrifying.

They practiced relentlessly, staying in the studio past midnight, perfecting every movement.

The night before the showcase, Juun sat on the floor, stretching her legs while Sion leaned against the mirrors, scrolling through his phone.

"Nervous?" he asked without looking up.

Juun huffed. "A little."

Sion put his phone away and crossed his arms. "We’ve practiced for weeks. You’re going to be fine."

She groaned. "Easy for you to say. You’re used to this."

He thought for a moment, then leaned forward slightly. "The first time I did a showcase, I nearly threw up from nerves."

Juun’s head shot up. "No way."

Sion grinned. "I’m serious. My hands were shaking, and I was convinced I was going to mess up."

She gaped at him. "But you didn’t."

He shrugged. "Because I realized something. If I let fear take over, I’ll regret it more than making a mistake."

Juun stared at him, absorbing his words.

"You’re going to do great," he assured her.

And the next day, under the stage lights, they did.

2024 came faster than expected.

Sion debuted in NCT WISH with WISH, and Juun was there, standing backstage after their first broadcast, waiting for him.

The moment he stepped off the stage, she grinned and clapped her hands. "You killed it, Sion!"

He exhaled, a tired but triumphant smile forming on his lips. "It still feels unreal."

Juun nudged his arm. "It’s real. You did it."

Sion chuckled. "Well, your turn is coming soon."

She beamed. "And when it does, I expect your congratulations too."

He smirked. "Obviously."

Juun debuted with HEARTHS2HEARTS, their first song The Chase making waves immediately.

Sion sent a message the moment he watched the performance:

"You looked like you were meant to be on that stage. Proud of you, rookie."

She laughed, shaking her head before replying.

"I had a good mentor."

The next time they met, he handed her a small notebook.

She raised an eyebrow. "What’s this?"

"Tips," Sion said. "Things I learned during my first year. Stuff I wish I knew earlier."

Juun flipped through it, eyes widening at the detailed notes—how to pace herself during promotions, how to handle interviews, even how to manage nerves before big performances.

She looked up at him. "You’re really like a big brother, you know that?"

Sion rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his small smile. "Don’t get too sentimental on me."

She laughed, clutching the notebook to her chest.

"Thanks, Sion."

He ruffled her hair. "The journey’s just beginning, Juun."

And together, they continued forward.

.